News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Households in many parts of Co. Mayo were shaken from their slumber last Wednesday morning after an earthquake occurred off the county's coast.

The earthquake measuring four on the Richter Scale occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on June 6 with the epicenter located approximately 60km off the Belmullet coast. The tremors were felt all along the Mayo coast, from Blacksod down towards Inis Boffin, with members of the public reporting furniture and dishes shaking for a few seconds.

The British Geological Survey has confirmed that an earthquake with a magnitude of four and a depth of 3km occurred of the west coast of Ireland at 8:58 a.m. According to their Historical Earthquake Database, this is the first earthquake to occur off the Mayo coast in over 40 years, as well as the largest to have occurred off the Irish coast in a number of years.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH

US police officer Emily Reilly Lettie, a native of Trim, has been presented with a life-saving award for her part in rescuing a man from a fire last November.

Officer Reilly Lettie grew up in Avondale in Trim and moved to the United States in 2003, where she joined the police force in Detroit. Now based in Louisville, Kentucky, this is the fourth award she has received since joining the force.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]
MONAGHAN

John Kingham has no regrets about turning his back on his native Monaghan in order to bolster Armagh’s hopes of winning the Ulster senior football championship title.

Kingham was introduced to the Orchard County squad by manager Paddy O’Rourke earlier this year and has played at midfield and full-forward.

His crucial goal which helped to underpin a surprise league win over Kerry in Tralee further served to underline Kingham’s value as a target man and now the former Donaghmoyne club player admits he relished the role against the Red Hands last Sunday.
[Source: Belfast Telegraph]
OFFALY

There was good news for Edenderry last week with permission granted for one new school and it’s expected that permission will be granted for a second.

The two schools will provide permanent homes for Scoil Bhride and the Gaelscol.

Two weeks ago the Gaelscoil Eadain Doire received the news that planning permission had been granted for a new eight classroom school.
[Source: Offaly Express]
ROSCOMMON

More than 200 plots of turf have been cut on protected bogs over the last five weeks, a survey by an environmental group has shown.

High temperatures at the end of May saw a large increase in the amount of turf being cut in protected areas, according to a report by environmentalist group Friends of the Irish Environment. The report shows turf being cut on protected bogs in Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Kildare.

The State gave a commitment to the European Commission that there would be no more turf-cutting on 53 raised bogs – and if this was breached, Ireland would face a daily fine of $31,500.
[Source: Irish Times]
SLIGO

The top garda (police officer) in the North-West was attacked in his car twice as his wife and daughter looked on in horror.

However, the man who carried out the attack claimed he could not remember it, Sligo District Court heard last Tuesday.

Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny was punched repeatedly on the arms by a drunk and crazed Peter Carty, of Eaglet House, Strandhill, Sligo, as he sat waiting for the lights to change at the junction of Strandhill and Larkhill Rd. on Dec 27, 2011.

Mr. Kenny managed to fend off his assailant on two occasions, the court heard.
[Source: Irish Examiner]
TIPPERARY

A dark chapter in Ireland’s recent history can still be found under the grass growing in Roscrea’s Sean Ross Abbey, used in the 1950s as a “mother baby” home.

In a mass grave lie the remains of dozens of young women and babies, who died in child birth. They lie today in an area called the “Angels Plot,” in unmarked graves, their names forgotten. One survivor of this era has come forward to tell the Tipperary Star she and others will use “all available legal means” to ensure that those graves are preserved and cherished.

“I am an adopted person and I wish to object in the strongest possible manner to the sale of Sean Ross Abbey,” says Collette Chambers. “There are several reasons why this sale should not proceed.

here are an unknown number of infants and children buried on the grounds as well as the grave of Michael Hess/Anthony Lee and as such, it is entirely unsuitable for development. These graves and the Angels Plot which contain the remains of hundreds and hundreds of babies and children, are of national and historic importance. Furthermore, the Angels Plot is of vital importance to all survivors of the Adoption Industry in Ireland.”
[Source: Tipperary Star]
TYRONE